Draft Day Wish List

April 17, 2001 by Steel Phantom

Draft Day Wish List

Draft Day
Wish List.

Christmas,
NFL-style, is just a few days away.�
Here is an outline of what I�d to like to see, and why.� Beginning with the Stiller�s immediate
needs:

Defensive Line:� The weakest unit on the team last year
has actually gotten worse.� At
present, there are only (5) DL on the roster.� Of those, none are two-gap players and only one, KVO,
exceeds 300#.� Last year, the starters
wore down because there was little depth; there is less now.� Beyond that, this unit has neither any
premium pass rusher nor a jumbo run-stuffer.� The LB and DB corps would look better if the DL improved;
the reverse is not true.� The
Stillers are at least 2 DL short.

MLB:� As long as the Stillers insist on the 3-4, they�ll need two
capable MLB.� Arguably, they are
one short.� Cutting Kirkland
elevated Fiala; maybe this man can play as well as Jerry O. once did but
neither the DL nor DB units today match up with the groups from Jerry�s
era.� The Stillers of 2001 will
need more from this position.�
There are only (3) MLB on the current roster; none are capable of
stepping in if Holmes goes down.�
The Stillers may need both a coverage ace and a back-up
run-stuffer.� Possibly, the latter
requirement goes away if the glacially slow Clark Haggans moves
inside.� However, since Haggans is
the 1st backup at OLB, there is no net gain attending this
move.

Interior OL:� There are no developmental prospects on
the roster; there is a screaming need for some G/T prospect but this could
be addressed on the 2nd day.

Speed:� The D-side back 8 is not real fast but the reserves are much
slower. Speed at LB and DB is required; if this is not addressed on the 1st
day, it must be on day 2.� There is
essentially no speed at WR.� On the
2nd day last year, the Stillers had every opportunity to deal
with this but, instead selected a slow WR, a slow OLB, a 3rd
string QB, a slight DE and a pass-catching TE.�

Looking at the
need list above, I count a lot of bulk players.� 2 DL, 1 OL, 1 back-up run-crushing MLB.� This leaves just two speed picks and that is not enough.� This strongly suggests that the Stillers
trade down, if possible.� If not, FA
run-stuffer takes a high priority.�
There is talk about FA Mike Jones but that should be squelched.� Jones is a slow player who will be asked to
play a fast man�s role; we saw that last year.�

Beyond those
immediate issues, looms the post-2001 D-side exodus.� This weekend some consideration should attend:

Gildon, Washington, Holmes and Scott
could be done following this season.�
Of those, I�d make Holmes and Scott high priority re-signs (along
with Joey Porter who will be an RFA following 2001).� In 2001, Washington will be entering
his 8th season; his next contract would take him through his 11th
or 12th.�� Dwayne has
been great but, without a very short-term, cap-friendly deal, 2001 should
be his last in B&G.� The Mill
has covered Gildon; suffice to say that the Stillers have some reason to
try and get ahead of the curve both at CB and LOLB.

Maybe someday, the Stillers will
abandon the 3-4.� If that is any
part of a long-term strategy, then the D-side class of 2001 should not be
selected simply because they fit the current (hopeless and archaic)
defensive system.

Turning to draft
day, as I�d like it to be.

First Round,
by preference:

1.1 Trade with
the Rams.� I don�t care who is on the board at #16;
the fact is that there are no elite prospects this year.� The Rams have 20,29, 42 and 54 overall.� If, as I believe is true, value is located
at the bottom of the 1st and top of the 2nd, then I�d be
glad to trade 16 for, say, 29 and 40.� I
doubt the Rams would make this deal; they�d have to believe that there was no
other way to get their preferred speed rusher.�
Though probably not doable, the best option is to swap 1st
round picks and get a high 2nd. �This trade is posted at the top to distinguish it from the set of
other trades to follow.�

1.2 DE/DT
Richard Seymour:� At the top of my list of players who may
be available at 16.� Morgan might help
more next year but Seymour is an equivalent prospect who plays a position of
greater need and has more upside.�
Seymour has the ideal size to play 3-4 DE; could be either a LDE or DT
in the 4-3.

1.3 MLB Dan
Morgan:� Has great leadership ability and will
contribute immediately.� Morgan is an
ideal 3-4 coverage MLB who could play on the weakside in the 4-3.� However, he does not project as a strong
side player and, if the Stillers ever go 4-3, that will be the need spot in the
LB corp.

1.4 OLB Andre
Carter:� Like Morgan has great leadership
ability.� PFW suggests that his ideal
position may be at 3-4 OLB.� As such,
could function as a 3rd down edge rusher this season and replace
Gildon in 2002.� If the Stillers go 4-3
in 2002, they will have acquired a top RDE this year.

1.5 Trade
with any team willing to give a 3rd to swap 1st round
picks.�� The Eagles, Bucs, Fins and Lions are,
more or less, remote possibilities.

1.6 CB Nate
Clements: �Best upside of all CB; would be slatted to
replace DW in 2002.� Carter is about
ready now; Clements is not.� If not
Clements, Will Allen.

1.7 Offensive
players:� Jeff Backus, Steve Hutchinson
or Drew Brees come to
mind.� Excluding Hutchinson who could
start at RG, none of these players meet immediate needs.� However, their selection now could free up
cap room for post-2001 moves.� Backus
would function as an G/T this year and could move out to ROT in 2002.� This would push Smith to LOT and allow the
Stillers to clear additional cap space by cutting Wayne Gandy.� I like Gandy but he will have completed his
9th year in 2002.� That is
John Jackson territory; Gandy will not be a Stiller after 2002 and his cap
space could come in handy next off-season.�
Then too, taking Backus could allow the Stillers to dictate terms to the
Bucs.� If Kordell does not progress in
2001, Brees�s presence could give the Stillers an alternative.� Hutchinson and Brees are players both
Seattle and Detroit may covet but a swap of 16 for 17 or 18 would bring little.

2.2 Torrance
Marshall:� Could play inside in the 3-4 or on the
strong side in the 4-3.

�

2.3 Sedrick
Hodge: If Seymour is the
1st pick, there is a premium on speed in the 2nd round.� Bell or Hodge may be available; I like
Hodge on the basis that he has the frame to move to LOLB when Big Sack leaves
town.�

2.4 Willie
Middlebrooks:� Has impact potential.

2.5 Kendrell
Bell:� Meets the need at coverage MLB; does not
project as a future strong side OLB.

2.6 Kris
Jenkins:� Has everything you want in a 3-4 DL
except instinct and consistency.

Second day,
prospects that may fall thru:

2.1 Eric
Westmoreland:� Very good player whose size may keep him
out of the first three rounds.� Could be
a coverage MLB.

2.2 Mario
Fatafehi:� Tested poorly at the Combine but was more
productive than either Rogers or Hampton in the same conference.� College teammates Darrin Howard and Mark
Simoneau both played above expectations last year.

2.3 Brian
Allen: As Westmoreland
above.

I�ll file a last
Mock Draft, version 3.0 midnight Friday and follow up with a set of second day
possibilities early Sunday.